[A/N: Unedited]
Thira changed for the better in the past few months.
However the same could not be said for the thousand headed serpent tribe. They lost the trust of the people when the scandal of the first elder was revealed.
The first elder of the thousand headed serpent tribe had betrayed the city and his own tribe. His actions tarnished the reputation of his tribe.
But, remembering the sacrifice of hundreds of warriors of the thousand headed serpent tribe, the citizens didn't revolt against them.
Many died, they didn't want any more blood to be spilled in Thira.
___
Chitra had used a teleport point that was present on Alex's house in the exterior of Thira.
"Thuck" She landed on the floor making a loud noise.
She had appeared at the center of the house. Like usual, she felt nauseous after each teleportation. But still, she held it in.
Vomiting would have been unsightly.
Unknown to Chitra, two kids had already come to the room. Their curious eyes peered into the room from outside.
"Hello." Chitra sensed them the moment they opened the door. She called out to the owner of those familiar eyes.
However, the kids didn't respond. They released a sigh in disappointment and fully opened the door.
These kids were the sisters of Arav. The twins Malu and Ammu.
Arav was the beast tamer that Alex befriended when he first came to Thira. He lost his family in the battle that ensued in Thira previously.
So, he was currently working as the caretaker of Alex's property in Thira.
Arav was currently not home. So, the twins were the first to come to the central hall once they heard the noise.
But the person they saw was not the one they were expecting.
They assumed it was Alex and came running there. After all, whenever Alex came, he would bring some treats to the children.
That was why they showed disappointment.
"Hello kids. Do you remember big sister?" Chitra asked when she noticed the children were not responding.
"Sigh!"
"It's just sister Chitra." Malu said, dissatisfied.
"When is brother Meru coming?" Ammu asked with expectation.
From their words, Chithra could easily deduce that they were not thrilled to see her.
"He will arrive here soon." Chitra answered Ammu.
"Hi hi…" It caused Malu to giggle with some naughtiness in her eyes.
"No, don't do it." Ammu instantly recognised the thoughts of her sister. She knew that when her sister was up to no good when she giggled like that.
"I haven't even done it yet." Malu said. "But, can I, just this once, place a bucket of water near that place." She pointed at the place Chitra teleported to and asked.
She was expecting Alex to teleport to the exact place. So, she wanted to prank him.
"No. Don't do it. What if you soak the treats?" Ammu chided.
However, suddenly a person appeared behind them like a ghost. He made no noise and observed the kids.
"Ammu, just this once."
"No means no. The snacks will spoil."
"It's just water, not muddy water or sewer water "
"I don't want to eat something that is soaked."
"Uh…"
Malu finally gave up. Neither was afraid of pranking Alex. But both disliked the fact that the snacks he might bring would spoil.
Chitra, who saw Alex teleport behind the kids, wanted to warn them. She danced her eyes around to make them notice him. But, they were too busy in their own world.
"Ah, I am so sad." Alex gave out a sigh and spoke.
This frightened the kids. They turned their heads like frightened deers. Their eyes widening to their maximum.
"Oops." Their voices echoed.
"Giggle giggle." Shortly after, they erupted into a giggle that felt like the chimes of a bell.
"Brother Meru." They happily welcomed him.
Or should I say they welcome the snacks he brought.
The children could see some kind of package in Alex' hand. And they instantly recognised it as some sweet snacks that he used to bring.
After all, Alex never disappointed them.
"Big brother Meru. What do you have in your hand?" Malu asked with expectation.
"Should I give this to you? I thought you were planning to drench me when I was about to teleport in."
"Ah… But we didn't do it."
"Still, you guys conspired to do it."
"No, I didn't. I stopped her." Ammu raised her hand and spoke.
"Are you sure? I thought you wanted to save the snacks that I brought." Alex scrutinized the tiny figure.
His question stumped the kids. They knew they were caught red handed. Their faces turned red in shame.
"Don't make fun of them. Give them the snacks." Chitra said.
Although the kids were a little naughty, they were not bad by any measurements.
"Okay. Okay. I was about to give them this." Alex raised the pack of treats. He handed them over to the kids.
Their eyes shone bright like a star when they accepted the snacks.
"Thank you brother Meru." They said,
They ran away shortly after receiving the snacks.
Alex didn't disappoint them. He had brought all the snacks the kids liked. They ate it in glee.
Last month, after leaving pushpam, Alex traveled across the central continent. Stopping at different regions for a short while to create TP's.
And he would occasionally return to his home in Thira. That's how he formed a great relationship with the kids.
Him, buying them treats most of the time had made them wait for him with great expectations.
Alex watched them gobble down the snacks and smiled.
They were not always smiling and happy. It took them great effort to get behind the death of their family. He was thankful to see them smile.
"If I had known, I would have brought them some snacks. Every time I come here, they give me a disappointed look."
"Just be thankful that you didn't get pranked by them. This was not their first attempt and it will not be the last. So, think twice before using this TP." Alex said.
He knew Chitra had used the TP in Thira before. That's why the children were not surprised to see her.
He gave a friendly warning to prevent her from using the TP if she was not in a hurry.
"It took a minute." Chitra said. She remembered what Alex had said before she TPed away.
"Oh! That's a little surprising. I am sure that it took more more than one minute. In fact, it took me about five minutes to reach Thira. Then I went to buy some snacks, costing me a total of six minutes. What is happening?" Alex began to ponder deeply to unravel the mystery. And then he reached a conclusion.
"It takes the same amount of time to travel. Even if I was using short distance teleport rapidly or using TP. Both take approximately the same amount of time. One is not faster than the other."
"I didn't judge the time wrongly. I was careful when I counted to one minute."
"I didn't say that you were wrong."
"Then, how could we feel differently?"
"Let's not make it complicated and say that what felt instantly to you was a lot of time in reality. How exactly it is a mystery. But I am pretty sure about my conjecture."
"You and your farm are beyond common sense. The me who is trying to unravel the mystery is the senseless one." Chitra said after giving up any thought of finding an answer.
She just wanted to move on with the day.
"When are we going to the west?" She asked. A small part of her was thrilled to go on this journey.
As a tier 5 warrior, a young prodigy of the divine butterfly tribe, she didn't have much freedom to travel. This was the first time in an eternity that she was traveling across the central continent on her whims.
She was thankful for Alex for giving her this ability.
And the fact that they were about to explore a vastly different continent with different type of energy users excited her.
"Now would be an appropriate time."
"Then, let go?" Chitra exited the house and began to walk.
"Not that direction. Go west, that's where the port is."
"I know."
"..."
Alex said some parting words to the children and left the house. They wanted him to buy different kinds of snacks when he returned. So, Alex promised them to buy them some western snacks.
Then, he found Chitra and led her towards the port. Ships were the only way they could go to the western continent.
Short distance teleport would use too much mana and put him at risk. Mana was something he should use sparingly. Or else, he wouldn't have enough if he came across some danger
He recklessly used short distance teleport previously knowing that he would be safe in Thira. The same could not be said for the unknown west.
The sea in itsel
f was dangerous, teeking with a wide variety of dangerous magical beasts. Even tier 5 beings inhabit the ocean.
It would be foolish of Alex to jump into it without any consideration.
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